Three Cruisers And Two Destroyers

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 76, 31 March 1941, Page 7

Three Cruisers And Two Destroyers

NO BRITISH LOSS Ha// Of Heavy Cruisers Now Out Of Action (British Official Wireless.—Rood, noon.) RUGBY, March 30. An Admiralty communique states: "The Commander-jn-Chief in the Mediterranean reports that no casualties or damage were sustained by His Majesty's ships throughout recent operations. Two oi our aircraft, however, are not yet accounted for. "So far it has been confirmed that the following Italian warships have been sunk—the eight-inch, 10,000-ton cruisers Fiumc Pola and Zara, a large destroyer, Vincenzo Gioberti, and the destroyer Maestrale. Further details are awaited." With the sinking of three eight-inch cruisers Italy has now had over half her total force of these vessels, which at the outbreak of the war consisted of seven, put out of action, the Bolzano having been severely damaged in a torpedo attack some time ago. "Fiume and Zara were commissioned in 1930, and the Pola a year later. These cruisers had a designed speed of 32 knots. The destroyer Vincenzo Gioberti was one of the largest and fastest Italian destroyers. She was completed in 1936 and' her designed speed was 39 knots. She had a displacement of 1 729 tons. The Maestrale had a displacement of 1 449 tons and was completed in 1934. She had a speed of 38 knots. An Italian communique cabled says: "An air formation repeatedly attacked a strong naval formation in eastern Mediterranean. One of our torpedo planes, despite violent anti-aircraft defence, succeeded in hitting a light cruiser." A German communique stated: "German bombers on the night of Friday last attacked a strong British naval formation west of Crete and scored three hits on an aircraft carrier despite heavy anti-aircraft and fighter defence." In addition to the three cruisers named above, tlic Zara class includes 'lieGorreia. The ships were commissioned between April, 1930, and December. 1931. Each has a standard displacement of 10,000 tons and a complement of 705 men, Their overall length is 599ift. beam 67ft Bin, draught 19.\ ft. Each Hfffiers' two aircraft with catapult, and the guns comprise eight Sin twelve S.tlin, fen 37 mm anti-aircraft, eight 13 mm anti-aircraft. They have no torpedo tubes. The armour on the side is the turrets sin and 2in on tit deck. Machinery is geared turbines, 95,000 horse-power, and the speed on trials 32'kriots. The cruisers have a radius of 3200 miles at 25 knots. The destroyer Vincenzo Gioberti belongs, to the Orkrvt class, of which there are five vessels. She was commissioned in September, 1936. The vessel lias t displacement of 1J29 tons, and carries four 4.7 in guns, eight 37 mm anti-aircraft, four 13 mm anti-aircraft, and has six 21 in triple torpedo tube*. The Maestrale is a destroyer of the Grecale class, in which there are font ships. She went into commission in April, 1934, and has a displacement of 1449 tons. She is armed with the same number and calibre of guns as the Oriani class, but has less power, developing 38 knots as against the Gi.-v e rti's 58.